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Review
. 2024 Jan 25:14:1325500.
doi: 10.3389/fcimb.2024.1325500. eCollection 2024.

Human papillomavirus and cervical cancer in the microbial world: exploring the vaginal microecology

Zhemei Zhang #  1   2 , Qingmei Ma #  1   2 , Lei Zhang #  1   2 , Li Ma  1   2 , Danni Wang  1   2 , Yongqing Yang  1   2 , Pengxia Jia  1   2 , Yang Wu  1   2 , Fang Wang  1   2
Affiliations
Review

Human papillomavirus and cervical cancer in the microbial world: exploring the vaginal microecology

Zhemei Zhang et al. Front Cell Infect Microbiol. .

Abstract

The vaginal microbiota plays a crucial role in female reproductive health and is considered a biomarker for predicting disease outcomes and personalized testing. However, its relationship with human papillomavirus (HPV) infection and cervical cancer is not yet clear. Therefore, this article provides a review of the association between the vaginal microbiota, HPV infection, and cervical cancer. We discuss the composition of the vaginal microbiota, its dysbiosis, and its relationship with HPV infection, as well as potential mechanisms in the development of cervical cancer. In addition, we assess the feasibility of treatment strategies such as probiotics and vaginal microbiota transplantation to modulate the vaginal microbiota for the prevention and treatment of diseases related to HPV infection and cervical cancer. In the future, extensive replication studies are still needed to gain a deeper understanding of the complex relationship between the vaginal microbiota, HPV infection, and cervical cancer, and to clarify the role of the vaginal microbiota as a potential biomarker for predicting disease outcomes, thus providing a theoretical basis for personalized testing.

Keywords: biomarkers; dysbiosis; microbiota transplantation; personalized testing; probiotics.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
The alterations of the vaginal microenvironment when the dysbiosis of the VMB and HPV infection occur with cervical lesions.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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